Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

A New Cover (and a GIVEAWAY!)

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[This giveaway has ended, and the winner is Emogene N Oliver! Congratulations, Emogene! Watch your email for information on how to get your book. I loved reading all the comments and so appreciate the encouraging words! Have a wonderful day!] One of the most fun events in the life of a writer is getting to see the cover for a new book! Novelists are usually able to have input on the cover and … [Read more...]

Does an Author’s Age Matter?

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Last weekend I had the fun privilege of having a reunion with some friends from college. Way back in the good ole days, we went on a mission trip together during our time at Taylor University. As we were reminiscing on Facebook about the trip, we realized that four of us live in Michigan within driving distance of one another. So we arranged a dinner in Frankenmuth and brought along our … [Read more...]

Research Road Trip

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During the last weekend of January, I took a research trip to explore the setting of my current work in progress. Not only did I get to dig into the local history of Kingsland, TX, but three writing friends met up with there and turned the weekend into a writing retreat. So wonderful to be blessed by the fellowship of fellow writers and friends. Fellow IBLF blogger, Anne Mateer, was part of the … [Read more...]

Marmee’s Library

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We recently learned that our sweet Ivy (and her mommy and daddy!) will be coming to visit our house next month! We are excited for so many reasons, but maybe the biggest joy for me will be introducing Ivy to Marmee’s library. Being a book lover, of course I kept not only the books my children loved, but also a few of the books that I loved as a child! There are the hard-backed Madeline … [Read more...]

Tear Jars from Israel {Giveaway} & an engaging new Bible study

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Have you ever heard of or seen an ancient tear jar? Stories of tear jars—or lachrymatories—appear often in middle eastern history. In Roman times, women would fill these small glass jars with their tears and place them in tombs as symbols of love and mourning for their deceased loved one. A wife in antiquity might use such a jar to collect her tears of grief and longing for a husband who was … [Read more...]

God’s posture toward us

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Today I welcome my friend Christine Bierma from Atrustworthysaying.com as my guest blogger. She has graciously allowed me some time away to rest, relax and recharge. She has been writing a series called "Postures" that considers the many postures that we can take as we approach God and the postures He takes toward us as we approach him. This is the second post in this series. To read more, please … [Read more...]

Prayer & Praise (& a Giveaway)

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Hi friends. I hope your 2020 is off to a good start. In keeping with Deborah’s post yesterday about transparency on social media, I admit that my January has been filled with both ups and downs, i.e. LOWs. :} I also admit that last year I took on a “Read the Bible in a Year” program, and failed to complete it. :( (Lamentations tripped me up. Just saying). It’s January and I've only made it to … [Read more...]

Being Real in a Social Media World

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[I'm rerunning a post that ran here almost exactly five years ago. All these years later, my thoughts about social media are still conflicted: I love it and I hate it. I think the questions are even more pertinent today than they were five years ago. I’d love to hear your thoughts.] My husband and I went out for an impromptu breakfast the other day and he asked me, “Aren’t you going to take a … [Read more...]

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